Five Thoughts Following The Loss To Maryland

[Daniel Seahorn]

You left off what I thought was our biggest weakness today, defense. Our D played very bad. This was not the same D we had last year later in the season. The coaches hyped our D continuously.  To me it was our biggest disappointment 

I will disagree. The defense got you the ball back several times down the home stretch with chances to go up. They didn’t turn the ball over three consecutive times in crunch time. 

I expected there to be some struggles defensively going in based on what Canada does offensively and felt like as the game wore on and adjustments were made the defense played better. 

 

[Daniel Seahorn]

Even the casual fan can see the offensive line improvement, specifically in pass protection. The problem is the offensive line was so bad last year that an improvement means they are just average or maybe slightly above average. Texas needs to figure out what their identity is on offense and stick to it. Until that happens, the frustrations on that side of the ball will continue.

Agreed on the identity crisis. I have no idea what they want to be right now offensively and this is now the second year in the system. Things seemed really stale and predictable for stretches of the game yesterday and lacked creativity. 

 

[oldhorn2]

Still haven’t figured this out either. He also got critical targets down the home stretch. 

yeah.....critical targets......like throwing to him 5 yds behing the line of scrimmage when we needed to gain 5 yds for a first.....head scratcher

Note to Sam...it aint a safety valve throw when you throw to a guy behind the LOS when a defender is already on him......we gain 5 yds by just throwing that one out of bounds....thinking about it...as inaccurate as Sam was , that might have been what he was trying to do.

 

[North Texas Golfer]

Agreed on the identity crisis. I have no idea what they want to be right now offensively and this is now the second year in the system. Things seemed really stale and predictable for stretches of the game yesterday and lacked creativity. 

Totally agree.

Texas showed no quickness on offense from the skill positions other other than Ingram. Plays developed really slowly compared to other teams I watched during the day. Even Maryland played quicker.

To me that indicates that players are thinking instead of reacting and/or playing not to make a mistake, i.e. playing not to lose. And that's a coaching flaw, plain and simple.

 

[mctmatt]

I hate to be that guy, but watching the team yesterday left me very discouraged as others had mentioned I just did not see the improvements of a team in year two of a new coaching staff.  I actually believe that Maryland missed more opportunities to put the game away and it was more of their mistakes that kept us in the game. Right now I think we are a team that will struggle to win 7 or 8 games. Should we win less, then year three becomes Tom's make or break year !

 

[okiehorn]

I will disagree. The defense got you the ball back several times down the home stretch with chances to go up. They didn’t turn the ball over three consecutive times in crunch time. 

I expected there to be some struggles defensively going in based on what Canada does offensively and felt like as the game wore on and adjustments were made the defense played better. 

agree with Daniel, Texas defense struggled big time for quarter and a half or so. I was worried. i even thought we were toast once Gary got thrown out. BUT they stepped up huge in second half. after the Fumble i didnt think UT would get the ball back and defense made that happen. Once again they had the team on there back. Now that i slept on it im not nearly as upset. Texas does have potential. I hate to admit it but i dont believe we have the right QB in the game. And putting Rising in IS NOT the answer. We need to develop a QB. Last 10 years playing freshman has been the normal and look where we are. With the O-Line doing well in pass protection lets give Shane a shot. Never thought id say that, but if that is the identity i want Shane and Ingram. 

 

[83Dee]

It's honestly as if this program is cursed, it's a bit funny but the look Charlie had in his post game conference after the Kansas debacle; Herman had the same demeanor today, it's sad.. we have created a program that destroys good coaches, they come in with tons of confidence and then at some point, that confidence fades, I see it now in Herman... God Speed 

This is profound.  If I were to commission a committee to figure out why great coaches elsewhere come here to fail, since 2009, I would first accumulate data as to the extra obligations the LHN places on coaches / players and the effect of those stupid cameras have - everywhere you turn.  Remember, Mack Brown complained about this very thing. Does the LHN launch not pretty much coincide with the football program’s decent to mediocricy?  

 

[TexCoyote]

You look back on most all of the running attempts and it is so slow getting moving. It looked almost like the option out of the wishbone, where you stick the ball in his stomach and ride with him and either give it or pull it and continue with the option. That takes way too long to develop. I would have to look back, but i am sure it took several seconds for Sam to let go of the ball and the running back take off......by then the line of scrimmage was beginning to break down. You can't block most guys 5-6 seconds every time. The OL looks better. I think we would get production out of most of our backs if within a second or so they were hitting the line full speed or getting to the edge with it. Just my two cents, but it seems to be the case. I am sure the coaches will identify this and we will see change this coming week.

 

[Eastexhorn]

The defense again lost the lead late in the game. Is the defense good are only look good playing the offense in pratice.'

IMO it would help to forget all the co cordinaters and put it all on one man. Maybe too many cooks in the kitchen.

 

[okiehorn]

The defense again lost the lead late in the game. Is the defense good are only look good playing the offense in pratice.'

IMO it would help to forget all the co cordinaters and put it all on one man. Maybe too many cooks in the kitchen.

I May be ignorant but defense gave up 10 points in the second half WITHOUT there BEST LB...without the goal line stop from the "bad defense" Texas wouldn't even had a chance at the late drive. ......i dont understand this madness. The offense gave the ball up 3 consecutive positions in the last 7 min or so and we are going to pitch a fit about defense. Im thankful they didnt score a few more at the end personally. 

 

[dillohorn]

3rd and 19 for Maryland and they get 25 yds in 2 plays to continue their td drive while making the UT defense look like keystone cops.

 

[UTfish]

agree with Daniel, Texas defense struggled big time for quarter and a half or so. I was worried. i even thought we were toast once Gary got thrown out. BUT they stepped up huge in second half. after the Fumble i didnt think UT would get the ball back and defense made that happen. Once again they had the team on there back. Now that i slept on it im not nearly as upset. Texas does have potential. I hate to admit it but i dont believe we have the right QB in the game. And putting Rising in IS NOT the answer. We need to develop a QB. Last 10 years playing freshman has been the normal and look where we are. With the O-Line doing well in pass protection lets give Shane a shot. Never thought id say that, but if that is the identity i want Shane and Ingram. 

I didn't think Sam did all that bad until that last pass.  He made some nice throws and his misses were not that far off and on the safe side until then.  The other interception was a tipped ball.  His legs got us some yards and kept him from being sacked a few times.  If anything, he was hesitant to use them at times when he had an opening.

I seriously question the use of Porter, and am really excited about the future of Ingram, but just didn't get to see enough of how he would do on pass pro.  My guess is that that is what limited his playing time.  I expect we'll see a lot more of him in the Tulsa game.

Agree on the defense.  Also, backs and returners need to put both hands on the ball when they know they are about to make contact.

 

[okiehorn]

I didn't think Sam did all that bad until that last pass.  He made some nice throws and his misses were not that far off and on the safe side until then.  The other interception was a tipped ball.  His legs got us some yards and kept him from being sacked a few times.  If anything, he was hesitant to use them at times when he had an opening.

I seriously question the use of Porter, and am really excited about the future of Ingram, but just didn't get to see enough of how he would do on pass pro.  My guess is that that is what limited his playing time.  I expect we'll see a lot more of him in the Tulsa game.

Agree on the defense.  Also, backs and returners need to put both hands on the ball when they know they are about to make contact.

Even if the ball isnt tipped it was clearly thrown in triple coverage. Was a bone head throw. And the "last" pass is exactly why im saying Texas needs to try someone new. He cannot finish. Yes this wasnt all on his shoulders but a leader learns from there mistakes. That makes 5 games now that shaped up similar to Maryland under Sam. I am and was his biggest fan but this is reality.

 

[dillohorn]

Even if the ball isnt tipped it was clearly thrown in triple coverage. Was a bone head throw. And the "last" pass is exactly why im saying Texas needs to try someone new. He cannot finish. Yes this wasnt all on his shoulders but a leader learns from there mistakes. That makes 5 games now that shaped up similar to Maryland under Sam. I am and was his biggest fan but this is reality.

Sam always finds a way to lose the game at the appointed time.

 

[Daniel Seahorn]

The defense again lost the lead late in the game. Is the defense good are only look good playing the offense in pratice.'

IMO it would help to forget all the co cordinaters and put it all on one man. Maybe too many cooks in the kitchen.

There was almost an entire quarter left when Maryland took that lead. And the defense bowed its neck and held them to a short fg to keep the game from being put away. 

At the end of the day, I’m not nearly as concerned about the defense as I am the offense and that’s troubling considering who is running the show. 

 

[UTfish]

Sam always finds a way to lose the game at the appointed time.

Even if the ball isnt tipped it was clearly thrown in triple coverage. Was a bone head throw. And the "last" pass is exactly why im saying Texas needs to try someone new. He cannot finish. Yes this wasnt all on his shoulders but a leader learns from there mistakes. That makes 5 games now that shaped up similar to Maryland under Sam. I am and was his biggest fan but this is reality.

Can't argue against that.

 

[Drunk and lost in ATX]

9-3 is what most on here were calling before the game. I think we will do better still. Give the coaching staff this year and then decide. Bunch of idiots can’t even give the man a full 2 years to right the ship.

Agreed. Coaching turnover sets schools very behind in recruiting. And the good thing about Texas, coaches don't leave for other jobs. It's a job coaches retire at. And for the all the fans who would want to fire Herman and Co after year 2, who would we hire? Matt Campbell? C'mon now.

 

[Jameson McCausland]

This is just my personal opinion, but I have a feeling that Herman was calling a lot of plays yesterday. He had the play sheet in front of him again and was very involved. Like he said in his presser last week, all short comings on offense should be blamed on him. He is the ultimate decision maker. If he wanted Ingram in the game he could have turned to Drayton and said, "Put 26 back in there".

 

[okiehorn]

Well put by Emmanuel Acho

[SIZE=12pt]https://mobile.twitter.com/thEMANacho/status/1036004718689099776[/SIZE]

 

[okiehorn]

This is just my personal opinion, but I have a feeling that Herman was calling a lot of plays yesterday. He had the play sheet in front of him again and was very involved. Like he said in his presser last week, all short comings on offense should be blamed on him. He is the ultimate decision maker. If he wanted Ingram in the game he could have turned to Drayton and said, "Put 26 back in there".

So how do you feel about this? Thing it was bone head play calling or bad execution? Curious what the other kids think